[Elecraft] First experience with K1

[ron]

I got the rig ready for operation for the first time after wiring up 
a power supply with the 2 amp fuse in-line.

At the scheduled hour, the elecraft net began. I let the control 
station do his thing. I could not hear anyone but N0SS.
After a little while, still nervous about making the net for the 
first time (will he hear me?? will I get the exchange right?? is 
there life on Mars??).

I heard QNI? Wait, did I really?? blast it I'm "going in" ...
sending my call once, twice then holding my breath, I waited for 
like an hour (heh heh).

WB1HGA de N0SS ur 549 K  He heard me! Wow! Unh, lets see, yes give 
him report. He returns "ur name?" I give him my name. He returns "ur 
state" I give him my state. I'm thinking now, shouldn't I have done 
this in one transmission?? Duh! He returns "ur serial number??" 
SERIAL NUMBER ??? Now I'm really shaking all over like Elvis Presley.
"That's right dummy" I said to myself, "serial numbers are exchanged 
heah" ... Duh!
I quickly send AS, he returns AS, reaching up to find the darn 
serial number, reading it upside down, then wrote it down. I sent 
the number then K,  unh? where is he?? I caught the display reading 
2 k's down from where I'm supposed to be. Rats! It moved when I 
looked for the serial number!
Quickly, I moved the dial and just caught him sending my call. Whew! 
zero beat then sent my serial number again. He returns QSL and 
proceeds to QNI again.

I left the station, settled into my easy chair and dwelled on that 
first K1 QSO.

Ron wb1hga
"CW, an esoteric experience"